National Museum of the American Indian Has Raised More Than $6 Million for National Native American Veterans Memorial

The National Native American Veterans Memorial, Warriors’ Circle of Honor, Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma) – National Museum of the American Indian

Published December 23, 2018

Memorial To Be Dedicated on November 11, 2020

WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian has raised more than $6 million for the National Native American Veterans Memorial. The museum will raise $15 million for the project, with $8 million going to construction, $4 million for programming and outreach, and $3 million to create an endowment for its long-term maintenance.

The memorial will be built on the grounds of the museum and was commissioned by Congress to give “all Americans the opportunity to learn of the proud and courageous tradition of service of Native Americans in the Armed Forces of the United States.”

The memorial design, announced by the museum June 26, 2018, is by Harvey Pratt (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma), a multimedia artist, retired forensic artist and Marine Corps Vietnam veteran. The design features an elevated stainless steel circle resting on an intricately carved stone drum. It also incorporates water for sacred ceremonies, benches for gatherings and four lances where veterans, family members, tribal leaders and others can tie cloths for prayers and healing.

Since fundraising began, the museum has received numerous donations for the memorial, including the following major gifts: $1 million from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, $1 million from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, $500,000 from the BNSF Railway Foundation, $500,000 from the Chickasaw Nation and $500,000 from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. A Nov. 8 event celebrating the memorial raised $32,000.